Malone cargo box vs Thule: Which is the Right One for You?

This post contains affiliate links.

Before you’d done any research, you might be forgiven for thinking that choosing a cargo box for your car would be easy as there are so many options that it can be pretty confusing. Today, we will answer a common question—should I choose a Malone or a Thule cargo box? Here’s our answer:

Both are honestly great choices. Malone is the clear choice for those on a budget while still looking for quality. Thule cargo boxes are the premium option in the cargo box world and have a broader range of higher quality goods.

So, it isn’t necessarily as cut-and-dry as definitely saying one is better than the other. Which one is right for you will depend on your personal needs and what you’re willing to spend. There are pros and cons to both brands, so let’s jump in and try and break them down.

Malone Cargo Box vs Thule? The Face-off 

We’ve given you the overview; now, let’s get into the battle between Malone cargo box vs. Thule. But you might still be looking for more information to make your choice. So, let’s look into some of the most important things to consider.

Company overview

There is a clear “winner” in that battle when it comes to company status. They have been building and selling premium cargo box solutions for over three-quarters of a century. They’re currently the biggest manufacturer in the market—throughout the world.

With such a storied history and a clear place at the top of the food chain today, it’s easy to see that Thule is doing something right. They’re here to stay—but that still doesn’t make them automatically the right choice.

Malone is no spring chickens, either. They’ve been market leaders for over twenty years and have been innovating in the sports and automotive storage industry since they started operation. Their underlying goal is always to give the customer the best possible value.

Product Range

So, you can’t look only at the company’s history to make an easy choice here. Both have been doing business for long enough for you to know they’re doing something right. The next thing to consider in the Malone cargo box vs. Thule battle is their product range. Without question, Thule has the greater range:

Product Range Name

Loading Capacity (Litres)

Thule Vector

360L – 430 L

Thule Motion XT

300L – 610 L

Thule Force XT

300L - 500L

Thule Ranger

260L – 280L

That’s four primary ranges, each of which with multiple options for capacity within them. Unfortunately, Malone cargo box fans don’t have such an extensive catalog. Instead of having multiple sizes and options available, Malone only offers the following:

Product Range Name

Loading Capacity (Litres)

Cargo

339L –453L

Profile

509L

Malone does have a range of products, but it’s nothing like the same variety as Thule’s range. This is an important consideration when choosing to opt for a Malone cargo carrier. That’s because they might generally not have the size you’re looking for. If not, then Thule could be the better option.

Product Quality

Though Thule won out on the wide range of products they offer, the most important thing is always going to be a quality product for most of us. Let’s look at how the two compare.

Thule is the number one premium brand for cargo box solutions. This is not surprising when you consider how long they have been successful. They offer premium solutions—but at a premium price.

Malone cargo carriers are by no means inferior quality, though. They do offer more of a budget option, and thus their quality will be comparably lower. The design is nonetheless robust and sturdy. Thule may be the better option if you need or just want the best quality, but that’s not to say Malone is poor or inadequate.

Availability

At this point, you might be starting to think you’ve made a decision. But you’ve still got to consider how easy it will be to get your hands on any of these products. Let’s look at the availability of both brands.

Purchasing Options for Thule

Purchasing Options for Malone

Online retailers

Online Website (US)

Many third-party retail sellers online/offline (Global)

Third-party retail sellers

Online marketplaces (Amazon)

Malone currently does not sell their products on global marketplaces like Amazon. Nonetheless, both are very easy to get your hands on in the right areas. The only problem with Malone is that there are limited third-party sellers outside the US.

Pros and Cons of Malone and Thule

So, we’ve looked in a lot of detail about why Thule or Malone cargo carriers might be best for you. But there are still a lot of specifics to be broken down, so let’s look into the essential pros and cons of each brand.

Malone cargo boxes

Pros

Cons

Highly affordable, much cheaper than most Thule products

Limited range of options when compared with Thule

The brand has a wide presence, available in many areas of the world

Cannot boast the considerable market share and track record of Thule

Convenient and straightforward to use and purchase

Not the same premium quality as Thule

Thule cargo boxes

Pros

Cons

Largest roof rack brand in the world

Are considered an expensive option for cargo carrier

It comes with various options ranging from 260L to 610L

Can be purchased from practically anywhere worldwide from themselves or a third-party seller

Our conclusion 

By now, you should have a sense of what both Malone and Thule can offer in terms of cargo carrying solutions. There are clear advantages to both, but if you have an idea of what you need from your storage solution, this guide should have given you a clear message about which one is right for you.

 If you’re looking for the best quality on the market, Thule is likely to be the best choice for you—at the same time, Malone offers quality products at a highly affordable price. If you’re on a budget, they may be the way to go.

About the author 


Vieira Babeker

Hi! I'm Vieira. I've always been interested in different Auto Accessories

My passion here at theroofboxes.com is to provide helpful straight forward clear advice and tips for Automotive Accessories.

Related Posts

Can You Put Roof Racks On A Car Without Rails?
What Size Thule Fit a Toyota Highlander?
How to Choose the Right Roof Rack and Cargo Box for Your Toyota Rav4
Roof Rack & Roof Boxes for Nissan Armada Guide
Roof Rack & Roof Box For Toyota Sienna Guide
Honda Pilot Roof Racks & Roof Box Buying Guide
Buying Guide for A Toyota 4Runner Rooftop Cargo Box
Can Roof Rack Go Through A Carwash?

Subscribe now to get the latest updates!